Device for assisting the piloting of an aircraft in taxiing, using at least one engine and at least one braking device, associated aircraft and method

Abstract

A device is for assisting the taxiing of an aircraft, using at least one engine and at least one braking member. The device includes a control member, adapted to be actuated by a pilot from a neutral position to define a taxiing piloting command and a central controller, adapted to operate pilot at least one engine of the aircraft to apply the taxiing command defined by the pilot. The central controller is also configured to pilot at least one braking member of the aircraft to apply the taxiing piloting command defined by the pilot.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An aircraft taxiing piloting assist device, comprising:
 a control member, operable by a pilot from a neutral position to define a taxiing piloting command, the control member configured to be moved to a maximum taxiing piloting command stop, the maximum taxiing piloting command stop being configured to move along a stroke of the control member to limit the stroke of the control member as a function of a current aircraft speed; 
 a central controller configured to pilot at least one engine of an aircraft to apply the taxiing piloting command defined by the pilot; 
 the central controller being also configured to control at least one aircraft braking member to apply the taxiing piloting command defined by the pilot. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one engine is a propulsion engine of the aircraft, the at least one engine being configured to exert an aircraft thrust force, and/or wherein the at least one engine is an electric motor configured to drive a wheel of the aircraft. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one engine is a jet engine or a turboprop engine. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control member comprises a movable lever piloting the at least one engine, the at least one engine being the propulsion engine of the aircraft configured to exert the aircraft thrust force and wherein the control member comprises a movable lever piloting an aircraft drag modifier configured to reduce a mechanical energy of the aircraft, the device being configured to switch between an inactive configuration during take-off, flight and landing phases and an active configuration during taxiing. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 4 , wherein, in the inactive configuration, the control member is configured to be moved by the pilot in order to set a command for varying a total mechanical energy of the aircraft to the central controller, so that the central controller pilots the at least one engine and the aircraft drag modifier, without piloting the at least one aircraft braking member,
 and wherein, in the active configuration, the control member is configured to be moved by the pilot to set an aircraft taxiing piloting command during rolling, intended for the central controller, so that the central controller pilots the at least one engine and the at least one aircraft braking member. 
 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , comprising a light-up display configured to produce at least one device activation, operation and/or deactivation luminous indicator. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 4 , comprising a device activating button to switch the device to the active configuration or/and a device deactivating button to switch the device to the inactive configuration. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the device activating button or/and the device deactivating button are arranged on the movable lever. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured such that, after application of the taxiing piloting command, the control member is returned to the neutral position. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the neutral position is a fixed neutral position with respect to the stroke of the control member, the control member being returned to the fixed neutral position. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the neutral position is a movable neutral position relative to the stroke of the control member, the control member being returned to the movable neutral position or the movable neutral position moving to a current position of the control member. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control member is configured to be moved to a minimum taxiing piloting command stop. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the minimum taxiing piloting command stop is configured to be overcome to reach a minimum taxiing piloting command detent in which the control member is locked in position. 
     
     
       14. An aircraft comprising:
 the device according to  claim 1 ; 
 at least one engine; and 
 at least one braking member, the at least one engine and the at least one braking member being configured to be piloted by the central controller in order to apply the taxiing piloting command set by the control member. 
 
     
     
       15. The aircraft according to  claim 14 , wherein the engine is an aircraft propulsion engine, configured to exert a thrust force on the aircraft. 
     
     
       16. The aircraft according to  claim 15 , wherein the aircraft is without an electric motor for driving a wheel of the aircraft. 
     
     
       17. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the taxiing piloting command is an aircraft rolling speed command or is an aircraft acceleration or deceleration command while rolling. 
     
     
       18. An aircraft taxiing method, implemented with an aircraft taxiing piloting assist device, the method comprising:
 determining an actuation, by a pilot, of a control member of the device, from a neutral position in order to set a taxiing piloting command, the control member configured to be moved to a maximum taxiing piloting command stop, the maximum taxiing piloting stop being configured to move along a stroke of the control member to limit the stroke of the control member as a function of a current aircraft speed; and 
 applying the taxiing piloting command defined by the pilot by controlling at least one engine of the aircraft by a central controller of the device, the central controller also piloting at least one braking member of the aircraft to apply the taxiing piloting command defined by the pilot.